The last 4 months have been a whirl-wind of preparations, farewells, and the like. I never thought that my departure date of July 6th would arrive, but now it is just around the corner.
While I am away, my wonderful Mom will be keeping up this blog with letters that I send home, pictures, and perhaps even some of her own thoughts on it all.
Many people have asked me why I am putting my education on hold for 18 months when I only have a year left, why I am choosing to leave my family when it is not my "duty," or why I am choosing to go when I am closer to 22 than 21. My answer to them is quite simple. Love. I LOVE my Savior, Jesus Christ and I want to serve Him full time. I LOVE God's children and want them to feel the same joy that I feel by coming unto Jesus Christ through faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. I LOVE the Temple and want people to be sealed to their families for all eternity. I LOVE the gospel of Jesus Christ and am humbled that I have the opportunity to share it with others and a great desire to open my mouth and declare the truth to all of the Argentine people.
I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church on the earth today. I know that it is the same church that Jesus Christ established during His mortal ministry and that it was restored to the earth through the prophet, Joseph Smith. I know that The Book of Mormon is the word of God and was translated by His power through Joseph Smith. I know that The Bible is also the word of God. I love the scriptures and study and ponder on them daily. I know that we have a living prophet on the earth today, President Thomas S. Monson, and that he leads us in the way that we must go and gives us the word of the Lord. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. He is the center of my life. Because of His great sacrifice, I know that I can return to my Father in Heaven as I repent and strive to be better. I know that the Temple is the House of the Lord and that families can be together forever. I know that the family is ordained of God. I know that The Church is true. I have made the big decision to go to Argentina and preach the gospel because I have a great desire for everyone to hear the truth. I know it will be difficult. I know that I will be doing things that I have never done before. I know that the Lord will be with me and as I am worthy of it, He will give me His guidance and direction. I know that this is the Lord's work and He is letting me be but an instrument in His hands.
Thanks for following my journey on this Argentine Adventure.
